2011 Camelbak H.A.W.G. NV Review

The 2011 Camelbak H.A.W.G. NV (Holds A lot of Water and Gear) hydration pack showed up here a few months ago and I have been using it on every ride since. New and lighter materials are used in its construction, the N.V.I.S(TM) back panel allows even better ventilation, overall it's a refined pack from its 2010 brother.

Read on,

Camelbak H.A.W.G. NV


CamelBak’s H.A.W.G.® NV is the perfect choice for an all day mountain bike ride on the most extreme terrain. The redesigned H.A.W.G.® NV now features an N.V.I.S.™ Back Panel for additional ventilation. Also offers over 900 cubic inches of storage, 100 ounces of water, plus dual side compression that raises the bar over any other cycling hydration system. An included rain cover allows for all-weather excursions in the saddle or on the trail.





You may be wondering about the name, H.A.W.G. NV, well it suits this pack well, with its ample amounts of storage space and the all new Antidote 3L bladder. 3L of water and almost enough storage room for an overnight trip, the H.A.W.G. NV sure does hold a lot of water and gear. I'd like to see a little more thought put into the the gear layout, ei. sleeves for pumps or tools that simply don't fit well into the outermost "tool area". The new insulated, bladder expansion area expands in to the storage area and while this makes for a more comfortable pack on your back, it takes away from nice storage lay out to a small degree.

I first tried an N.V.I.S.(TM) equipped Camelbak M.U.L.E. NV (2010 model) back in the spring time and I was instantly impressed with the comfort on my back. The 2011 H.A.W.G. NV is a revised version that ventilates noticeably better than most hydration packs on the market and the six points of contact are properly arranged to fit amazingly well on your back, providing great comfort. The 2010 M.U.L.E. NV and 2011 H.A.W.G. NV rank among the best feeling packs, in terms of comfort on my back, that I've worn over the past 6 seasons. The minimal amount of contact points keeps my back breathing and reduces the sweat build up that you get from some packs.

The integrated rain cover works well to keep water, mud and other debris off of the pack, but could use a cynch or something of that effect to keep the top of the cover in place like the bottom is secured. I have become very accustomed to using packs with rain covers due to the wet climate on the coast and I find this to be a big personal draw when seeking out packs for cycling - both commuting and trail riding. It is nice to see it as a standard feature on the H.A.W.G. NV.

While the H.A.W.G. NV is not aimed at the armor wearing sector of the sport and does not have any armor cynches, the abundance of cargo space (1120 cubic inches) always allowed me to carry my knee armor on rides that involved long climbs and more rugged, sustained descents. Simple as firing them in the pack and tightening down the side lashes (Dual side compression with Hypalon® anchors) to reduce swing weight on the way up, fire on knee pads at the top and get loose on the way down.

I was able to carry anything I needed for all my rides and always had a lot of water too with the H.A.W.G. NV, you just gotta pack accordingly so as to not over/under pack for a given ride. I'd say that I was easily "prepared" for pretty much anything as I filled the hydration pack with everything from a First Aid kit, plenty of tools and some snacks on all my rides.





New for 2011 is the Antidote bladder and it gets top marks from me for the center split (Baffle) that reduces the sausage effect that plagues most hydration bladders on the market. The baffle makes the reservoir sit more flat inside the pack and on your back - aiding in the comfort effect I was talking about earlier. The new closure is a simple 90 degree turn from full open to full close, no more forcing the bladder closed or a bit of a struggle when opening it. You now have a reservoir that sits better inside your pack (more comfortable), as well as being easier to open and close!

The feed hose un-clips from the reservoir without spilling thanks to the Quick Link: Auto Shut-Off = yeah! The Bite valve has an on/off lever that is really easy to use.


Please visit www.camelbak.com to learn about all their hydration products
I liked the comfort of the H.A.W.G. NV pack, but would like to see better tool and storage lay out inside the pack. The all new Antidote Reservoir is the best hydration reservoir I have ever used. Have you used a pack with N.V.I.S.(TM) or the new Antidote Bladder? Tell us about your experience below.

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